Ornamental banding for shafts



July 36), 1935, w. c. HAMPTON ORNAMENTAL BANDING FOR SHAFTS Filed Aug. l 7, 1951 Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORNAMENTAL BANDING FOR SHAFTS William 0. Hampton, Dayton, Ohio, assi nor to The Crawford, McGregor and Canby Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 17, 1931, Serial No. 557,632

5 Claims.

This invention relates to ornamental banding for shafts such as golf club handle shafts, fishing rods, polo mallets, tennis racquet handles and the like, and more particularly to an improved method of applying and securing such ornamental banding.

The present invention contemplates a foundation wrapping of sheet pyroxylin or other cellulose material, and an enclosing wrapping of successive turns of a cord like strand or beading of similar material wrapped thereabout, the successive turns of which are integrally united with each other and with the underlying foundation wrapping of sheet material, the underlying material and the exterior wrapping material being preferably of different color, the rounded form of the wrapping strand being preserved to afford a corrugated contour to the band.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction and application of ornamental banding for shafts and the like, whereby it will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more, efficient and secure, will be durable and unlikely to become loosened in play.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ornamental banding formed in situ and therefore accurately conforming to the enclosed shaft or support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous homogeneously united wrapping.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of application of such bandmg.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of the embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the handle shaft of a golf club to which the present banding has been applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the banding. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the wrapping material prior to application to the shaft.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

In the manufacture of sporting and game apparatus and especially in the manufacture of golf clubs, it has been customary to secure the extremity of the handle grip wrapping by a wrapping of thread or cord, commonly known as the wopping which, however, in use'becomes worn and frayed and finally broken'and unwound. The present invention pertains to a ferrule or band formed in situof such character that it will not become readily broken, detached or loosened.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I is the handle shaft ofthe golf club of which 2 is the usual leather wrapped grip portion. At the end of the leather wrapped grip portion 2 is the band or ferrule 3 forming the subject matter of the present invention.- This ferrule or band comprises an inner or foundation wrapping 4 of sheet material preferably sheet pyroxylin, celluloid or other cellulose material which is wrapped tightly about the handle shaft in overlapping relation with the end of the leather handle grip cover. Exteriorly of the sheet wrapping 4 there are wrapped successive turns 5 of a cord like strand or heading 6 of similar material preferably, though not necessarily, of different color from that of the inner sheet wrapping. The exterior wrapping of the strand or beading 6 may be continuous throughout the length of the underlying or foundation wrapping 4, but is preferably disposed in spaced sections exposing therebetween and beyond the terminal sections small areas of the foundation sheet wrapping material. After being tightly wrapped and secured, the turns of the wrapping strand or beading 6 are softened by the application of a suitable solvent such as acetone which, entering between the turns, also softens the underlying portion of the foundation or sheetwrapping 4. The softened contiguous surfaces thereupon merge one into the other thereby integrally uniting the successive turns of the wrapping strand one with another and also integrally uniting such turns with the underlying foundation sheet wrapping 4.

The resulting structure becomes a single unitary ferrule or band which being applied in situ conforms accurately and closely to the enclosed supporting shaft.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the charac- V less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into efiect and the invention is therefore claimed in any oi. its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendediclaimsz Having thus described my invention, I'claim:

1. A banding for shafts or the like comprising a substantially flat strip formed of a plastic derivative of cellulose and an overlying wrapping of like material, successive turns of the wrapping and the underlying strip being integrally united with each other.

2. In a banding for golf club shafts or the like,

a tapered band, a strand of material wrapped thereabout and comprising a group of contiguous convolutions' merged into one another and into n end, porti n of he. band, a, nd gr p of c nt uous: Qonvol t ons merged into one. no her and integrally united with the other end portion oi said band, and; spaced convolutions formed by said strand located intermediate said-groups of ont uous; convo ions.

3. In a banding for a golf club shaft or the like, a tapering band, a strand of material wrapped thereabout and comprising a group of contiguous convolutions wrapped about one end of the band, said convolutions being merged into one another and into the band, a second group of contiguous convolutions difiering in diameter from the first group of convolutions and located adjacent the other end of the band, said second group of convolutions merging into one another and into the band, and means arranged in spaced relation with respect to said convolutions for joining one group to the other.

l. A banding for shafts and the like comprising a flat strip formed of a plastic derivative of cellulose Wrapped about the shaft and an overlying Wrapping of a continuous strand of like material, the strip and Wrapping strand being integrally united.

5. A banding for shafts and the like comprising a flat strip formed of a plastic derivative ofcellulose Wrapped about the shaft, and a strand of like material of contrasting color wrapped about the flat strip, the strip and Wrapping being integrally united.

W. C. HAMPTON. 

